Description
Object description
British NCO served with D Coy, 13th (Service) Bn (4th Hull) East Yorkshire Regt, 92nd Bde, 31st Div in Egypt and on Western Front, 12/1915-11/1916; prisoner of war in Cottbus No 1 Camp, Germany, 1/1917-12/1917; repatriated from Germany to GB via Switzerland, 12/1917-6/1918
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Kiplingcotes and Cottingham, GB, 1892-1914: family; living conditions on farm; education; employment as gardener; recreational activities; memories of Boer War; reaction to outbreak of First World War, 4/8/1914; question of patriotism. Recollections of enlistment and training as private and with D Coy, 13th (Service) Bn (4th Hull) East Yorkshire Regt in GB, 9/1914-12/1915: volunteering at Kingston upon Hull, 9/1914; medical examination; reaction of parents; basic training; drill; route marches; accommodation in tented camp at Beverley; issue of uniform and kit; daily routine; rations; physical training; rifle training; bayonet drill; sporting activities; posting to Ripon Camp, 6/1915; accommodation in huts; kit inspection; guard duty; pay; relations with fellow recruits; swearing; opinion of NCOs and officers.
REEL 2 Continues: rifle training and ability as marksman; move to Salisbury Plain for further training, 9/1915; brigade and divisional exercises; opinion of training; bombing training with Mills Bomb; gas masks; promotion to lance corporal and duties. Aspects of operations as NCO with D Coy, 13th (Service) Bn (4th Hull) East Yorkshire Regt, 92nd Bde, 31st Div in Egypt, 12/1915-3/1916: issue of tropical kit and posting to Egypt, 12/1915; journey from GB to Egypt via Gibraltar and Malta; initial impressions of Egypt; attitude towards Egyptians; move to camp at Port Said; further training; amusing story of shortening trousers; climate and terrain. Recollections of operations as NCO with D Coy, 13th (Service) Bn (4th Hull) East Yorkshire Regt, 92nd Bde, 31st Div on Western Front, 3/1916-11/1916: posting of battalion at Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France, 3/1916; trench system and living conditions; problem of water in trenches; role with wiring party; role with night patrol; clothing and equipment; weapons; encounter with German patrol; duty in listening post; question of password; terrain; dugouts; amusing story relating to biscuits.
REEL 3 Continues: problem of rats; opinion of rations; ammunition stores; training on Lewis Gun; washing facilities and problem of lice; care of uniform; sanitary facilities and problem of Imperial German Army sniper; daily routine; sentry duty and use of periscope; attitude to German artillery fire; cigarettes; activities out of line; use of estaminets; role of D Coy in attack on Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France, 11/1916; problem of mud; casualties; wounding in arm and capture in shell hole near Imperial German Army front line at Beaumont-Hamel, Somme, France, 11/1916.
REEL 4 Continues: Aspects of period as prisoner of war in Cottbus No 1 Camp, Germany, 1/1917-12/1917: being escorted by Imperial German Army Uhlans; train journey to Berlin and medical treatment for arm wound, 12/1916; transfer to Cottbus No 1 Camp; description of camp; accommodation in huts; washing and sanitary facilities; opinion of food; food parcels; organisation of camp; attitude towards guards; question of separation of different nationalities; sight of Russian prisoners of war in Cottbus No 2 Camp; attitude to escaping; daily routine and problem of boredom. Aspects of period in Switzerland, 12/1917-6/1918: story of being repatriated to Switzerland due to arm wound, 12/1917; description of living conditions and further treatment for arm; return to GB and discharge on medical grounds, 6/1918; pension. Post-war life and employment: period of unemployment and problem of finding work; attitude to treatment as ex-soldier.